The U.S. Army diverted more than $151 million of the $225 million originally allocated for service members’ meals to other unspecified expenses in 2024, according to financial records obtained by Military.com.
The report, based on records from 11 of the Army’s largest bases, revealed that approximately 70% of the funds deducted from soldiers’ Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) payments were not used for meals.
At Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the Army reportedly collected $34.6 million from enlisted troops but spent only $16.6 million on food. Similarly, at Fort Cavazos, Texas, the Army used just $11.7 million of the $42.5 million it took from soldiers for food costs.
The only bases that allocated more than half of the collected funds to meals were Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and Fort Bliss, Texas, where 53% and 50% of the money, respectively, were spent as intended.
According to the U.S. Army website, BAS is a monthly allowance meant to help service members cover food costs, set at $466 per month for enlisted personnel and $321 for officers in 2024. However, for those living in barracks, the Army automatically deducts this amount, under the assumption that it will be used to provide meals through dining facilities.
Critics argue that the Army’s redirection of these funds raises questions about whether soldiers are receiving the nutrition they are entitled to, especially at a time when reports of food shortages at bases such as Fort Carson, Colorado, have surfaced.
Lawmakers have called for an investigation into the matter. Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, whose district includes Schofield Barracks, condemned the practice, saying: “Stealing food money from our soldiers is not how we achieve military readiness. The fact that at least $151 million was collected from soldiers and not spent on food as required demands not just an immediate investigation, but swift accountability.”
According to Military.com, army officials declined to answer questions regarding where the diverted funds went and how food budgets are allocated. The service also declined to make any senior officials available for interviews. In response, Maj. Andrea Kelly, an Army spokesperson, stated that the service only uses funds “needed to feed the projected number of meals based on previous head counts.”
